Distillation of hydrocarbons



March 6, 1928. I 1,661,189

M. R. MEACHAM.

DISTILLATION OF HYDROCARBONS Filed June 25, 1925 l 3- LIQUID LEVEL Mew/e fZ/V/eaa/zam Patented Mar. 6,

UNITED STATES 1,661,189 PATENT OFFICE.

MERLE B. MEAGEAI, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ABSIGNOB '10 STANDARD OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A OOBPORA'IIO OF DELAWARE.

DISTILLATION OF HYDBOCARBONS.

Application 111m June 2:, 192:. was Io. 847,517.

I This invention relates to the art of distilling hydrocarbons and will be fully understood from the following descrlption taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of apparatus embodying the features of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line II of Fig. 1.

In the customary procedure of distilling hydrocarbons with the use of bottom steam, i. e. steam injected along the lower part of the still, customarily by a plurality of perforated pipes, the only contact between the steam and oil is that resulting as the bubbles of steam ascend through the body of oil.

I have found that the contact between steam and oi, as secured in this manner of operating is too. incomplete to allow of the proper utilization of the steam with respect to its distilling and vapor-carrying capacity. Correspondingly the efficiency of the customarily designed apparatus is quite low as compared with what a proper utilization of the steam should accomplish.

In accordance with the present invention I have provided the application of steam in such manner as to secure the usual contact as the bubbles ascend through the liquid and additionally secure further and repeated intel-mingling and contact of the rising steam and the hot liquid undergoing distillation, this being accomplished in such manner as to allow of an extended distillation efl'ect. and the taking up of hydrocarbon vapors to a large extent of the capacity of the steam.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the reference character 1 designates a still which may be of the usual shell type, and projecting into the top and on down to 'eader connections are steam supply pipes 2. From the header, distributing ipes 3 extend longitudinally along the oor of the still, these pipes having referably perforations directed toward t e bottom of the still. A dome 4 arranged toward one end of the still has the usual vapor-olftake ipe 5, and arranged preferably beneath the ome is a circulating device 6, taking the form for example of an o en-ended tube, the lower end being near t e bottom of the still and the upper end extending just into the dome. Under the tube 6 and arranged to discharge into it is a steam jet pipe 7. Above the tube 6 is a hood deflector .8, and in relation to this so as to divert liquid downwardly are deflector plates 9 and 10, these being arranged in suitably overlapping and spaced positions. Atrough, which may be in, two sections designated 11 and 12, is positioned under the deflector plates so as to catch liquid which is discharged from the top of tube 6, and the construction of this trough is such as to carry the liquid along and uniforml distribute it over the sides of the troug for example, in the form shown the side walls of the trough are shaped with over-flow feed edges. Beneath the trough are spaced a plurality of plates or baflles 13, these extending longitudinally of the still and being positioned with respect to each other so as to receive in progressive succession the liquid overflowing from the sides of the trough and cascade it down by a plurality of stages through the upperportion of the vapor space of the still.

With the still operating, the oil being subjected to heat and the thorough agitation produced by the steam admitted to the inlet pipes 3, vapors are carried up andthe bubbles of steam traversing the oil escape at its upper surface and proceed toward the dome. At the same time the steam supplied through the jet pipe 7 raises quantities of the hot oil from the lower portion of the still, splashing it out over the deflector plates 9 and 10 from whence it runs down into the trough 11 and 12, and flowing therefrom it distributes in thin cascades onto the upper baflle plates 13, flowing down from plate to plate in succession toward the body of oil. In cascading down through the upper portion of the still in this manner the hot oil is brought into very effective contact with the ascending steam.

The precise form and arrangement of structure for afl'ording cascading contact of the hot liquid with the rising steam may i be varied, the arrangement however retaining the general feature of a plurality of baflle plates or the like to afford a fall of the .oil through the upper portion of the still in finely divided or film-flow condition. For instance, instead of a trough and solid plates as baflles, I also contemplate the provision of perforated plates or woven wire fabric sheets suitably spaced so as to break up and further distribute the oil flowing down from the upper part of the still. It

will be seen that in essence the invention contemplates the carrying of hot oil from the lower portion of the still and distributing such oil through the rising current of steam in such manner as to secure a widely spread and repeated contact of oil with steam, and

while I have shown a form of construction illustrative of the invention and comprising certain specific agencies, it will be underculating tube, deflector plates and a trough near the upper end of the circulating tube for receiving liquid discharged from the tube, said trough extending longitudinally of the still and having its side walls shaped with liquid distributing edges, and a plurality of spaced liquid distributing battles under the trough.

2. Apparatus of the character described which comprises a still, multi-perforated steam inlet pipes along the bottom of the still, an open-ended circulating tube projecting upwardly into the still from a point near the bottom, a trough for receiving liquid discharged from the tube, said trough extending longitudinally of the still and having its side walls shaped with liquid distributing edges, and a plurality of spaced liquid distributing bafilcs under the trough.

3. Apparatus of the character described which comprises a still, multi-perforated steam inlet pipes along the bottom of the still, an open-ended circulating tube projecting upwardly into the still from a point near the bottom, means for injecting steam into the lower end of said circulating tube, means for receiving and temporarily retaining liquid discharged from said tube, and a plurality of spaced bafllles under said receiving means and upon which said liquid overflows. I

4. Apparatus of the character described which comprises a still adapted for the steam treatment of hydrocarbon oils, multi perforated steam inlet pipes along the bottom of the still, means for raising liquid hydrocarbons to the upper part of the still, and means for distributing such liquid in cascade in a plurality of stages through the upper portion of the still and ii contact with steam from said inlet pipes. I

5. The improvement in the art of distilling hydrocarbon oils, which comprises heating a body of oil, bubbling steam therethrough, elevating a portion of the oil by'means of separately injected steam, and cascading such elevated portion through a plurality of stages in contact with steam and accompanying oil vapors rising from the upper surface of the oil in the still.

6. An apparatus of the character de- I scribed, which comprises a still containing a liquid oil, means having a large number of orifices for iIltl'OClllClIl". steam Into a lower part of the still in efi ective distilling MERLE R. MEACHAM. 

